Mediterranean Cruise, Day 5 (July 16)

The next port of call was Civitavecchia, Itay. Our first venture was to the Colosseum in Rome. R posed many questions about gladiators and the events that must have taken place in this vast facility. Gladiators actually performed on a platform area similar to the one pictured below, and animals were housed beneath.

As you can see with the numerous amount of pictures here that K enjoyed using his new wide angle lens on the camera.

Boy was it sunny and hot this day!

Next came St. Peter's Basilica where we needed our sleeves (no tank tops) and skirts below the knees. Prepared as we were, numerous others bought souvenir scarves to cover their shoulders and legs to be allowed entry. My dad thought this was the most memorable building in which he had ever stepped foot. The outside of the building is pictured below.
The inside is so ornate!

In Europe, and Paris especially, we have come across so many women (gypsies) begging for money that J thinks anyone with a scarf around her head is going to come ask. While exiting the Basilica, she saw a nun and she asked, "Mommy, is that lady going to beg us for money?"

We were off to the Vatican Museum to see Michelangelo's famous ceiling painting, but we don't have a picture to even prove we were in the Sistine Chapel as photography (even without flash) is not allowed. The pictures below are other painted ceilings within the Vatican Museum.

The kids took turns sleeping in grandparents' rooms which was a nice break for the parents! Rome exhausted us because of the heat, and so much walking and exploring. R woke up the next morning and said, "I could have slept for 4 days after Rome except Papaw woke me up."